Lloyd Parris stands in front of his antique shop at 1594 S. Broadway, where plans are for the road to be widened by next June. “On one hand, we realize that the construction is putting people to work,” he says, “but it’s not helping businesses along the way.”

In addition to the bad economy, some small-business owners say they’re suffering because nearby construction projects are making their stores nearly inaccessible.

Several road-construction projects are hindering access to entrances of businesses in the Denver area. And while construction is nothing new, the timing is making it worse for some businesses.

Michael May, sales manager for Fitness Gallery at 5220 Broadway, is relieved that the seven-month construction project to install a storm drain near his store finished over the weekend. The effect of the project, which was supposed to last 60 to 90 days, was dire for his business, he said.

He laid off three of his six employees because half of his customers had trouble getting past the traffic cones and detours, he said.

“It’s just been a nightmare,” he said.

Although it’s hard to estimate revenue losses resulting directly from construction, he said his business lost thousands of dollars.

Down the block at 5270 Broadway, Stan Good reau, chief executive of Colorado Custom Spas, said he had to entice customers to come in by holding a massive construction sale.

“We’ve been selling product below where we’d normally sell it just (for customers) to put up with the nuisance of getting lost,” Goodreau said. “We were taking 50 percent off in order to just keep cash flow going.”

He said he has seen a 30 percent decrease in customer traffic and an estimated 15 percent reduction in revenue as a result of the construction.

Shop owners along the 1500 block of South Broadway also are anxious about infrastructure construction that includes widening the road by next June.

At Packrat Antiques, 1594 S. Broadway, owner Lloyd Parris said the construction won’t be good for the distressed antique businesses along the street.

“We haven’t sold anything today,” he said Monday. “On one hand, we realize that the construction is putting people to work, but it’s not helping businesses along the way.”

Construction projects in Centennial have also been difficult for some business owners in the Arapahoe Village Shopping Center.

Marilyn Radke, owner of Best Vacuums at 5270 E. Arapahoe Road, said since construction began in March, she has heard several customer complaints.

“One lady told me it took her 40 minutes to get here,” she said.

Jon Schallert, a business consultant and president of Longmont-based Schallert Group Inc., said that with the right advertising, promotional and communication strategies, businesses can thrive even during construction.

“Lots of businesses can adapt with extra services to compensate for the unexpected delay (in traffic),” he said. “Loyal customers are pretty tolerant, and they won’t just abandon that business.”

How to cope with construction

Tips for small businesses when road construction is blocking their entrances or if customers are forced to take detours:

Make sure you have a database of customer names to notify them of how to get to your business easily and efficiently.

Frequently post street closings and closed parking lots on your business website, notifying people of alternate parking places and directions. It could be a section called “Today’s construction update.”

If it’s feasible, offer an option for customers to order products over the phone or online and have them delivered to their car so they don’t have to navigate through traffic cones.

Communicate with the construction crews and the city to find out when they plan to finish construction or where they are in the process.

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